added third picture, not a reply.

Hi there,
Your pics are the very first I have seen after joining Houzz and I have to say, that at least from the 3 pics you have posted, everything looks DARK!!! Although it's "pretty", the room, at least for me, wouldn't really seem to stimulate either appetite or conversation. Seems painting the two pieces dark purple would add to the heaviness in the room. Any desire to add some pops of color? Maybe you could use the colors in the painting above the glassware cabinet as inspiration? Just some thoughts :-) Good luck!!!

I wouldn't do it
Your space has a lovely cozy cottage feel - Purple paint isn't going to improve your pieces or your room at all.

The only thing I would do is release the curtains from their sad tie-back-bondage & allow them to spread and flow along your windows - and simplify your displays, making them less rigid & symmetrical and more natural, and adding a lamp to your sideboard for more light.

The room looks nice but needs punch. Cover the chair seats with a lime green/purple pattern/stripe and center piece of large dimensions on the table. Tall candles on the furniture with plates of purple above them. Lift curtain rods to ceiling height and tiebacks with co-ordinating purple/green fabric and let hang long or to the floor. Large ferns and plants will add glamor and warmth. Best.

I wouldn't paint the furniture a deep purple. If you really want purple go a little lighter or stay with the deep color but paint it on the walls and then lighten it up white or champagne accents.

I agree with what Bepsf wrote. You should allow your curtains to flow. Or make a more formal look with draperies in a punchy or bold pattern. Make your displays less formal and more whimsical. Add more light either with a lamp or with beautiful white candles. And I like the comment posted by Judie about lifting the curtain rods, its more complementary and dramatic.

I also wouldn't paint those pieces dark. What I would do is paint from your chair rail down, all white. Lightening and brightening the room more. Keeping the white pieces, white. Maybe take your dining room table, paint the legs and underside white as well. Keeping the top natural and dark, like your chairs. If you want purple in your space, get gorgeous purple slip covers for your chairs, purple candles, purple flowers. Maybe paint one wall a lavender, but keep below the chair rail all white. Good Luck!

Thanks for all the ideas everyone! I like the idea of painting it white under the chair rail, to brighten the room, but my only reservation is that it may look even more cottagey, and Im actually going for a more stately look. Ties will come off the drapes, and I like the idea of purple candles, and a lamp. Not too sure how to rework the displays. Any ideas? The white chest of drawers I use as a sideboard still bugs me though, it feels too bedroomy (thought painting it a dark color would help, but it looks like its unanimous NOT to!) Does anyone think replacing it with a real unpainted wood sideboard is a good idea?

By painting it white from chair rail down, will NOT make it look cottagey. If you want to ensure it to not take the cottagey route, then add wallpaper above the chair rail, or keep your furniture all dark, bringing in sparkle and elegance in your lighting, table setting and your accessories. What you could do to upscale your existing sideboard is add a granite top to it, but it isn't necessary to replace it entirely.

I agree; painting the chair rail white is a good idea. The room has great bones; it's huge, has good windows, nice wood floors, and I love the chandelier. If you are going for a stately look, I think I would remove the sideboard; I agree with you, it's a nice piece but perhaps for a bedroom. You have some great white porcelain pieces on it now that might work well on a single floating shelf in the room. How about painting pale gray and white, very wide vertical stripes above the chair rail? Also, for not too much $, you could replace the white sheers with a silk green/gray from a higher rod, which would glam up the room and play off the chandelier and displayed white pieces. Purple and gray are a great combo; purple table linens or purple flowers in a centerpiece with some reds to pull the colors from the large painting might work...start with painting the walls, though. If you don't like it, it's easy to change!

So grateful for all these helpful responses :). Would like to ask cmariehebson, I like the idea of adding granite, what color do you think? And a question for liv4ever, my living room is a pale grey color, so I wouldnt want to paint my dining room grey too. Do you think it would be bad if I just painted the lower part of the chair rail white and left it green above?

Hi Tracybuyshomes, regarding painting dining room gray. If you were to choose an alternate gray to your living room, but one that tonally compliments then it would make your home sophisticated and elegant. Because you are staying with the same colour palette, but making one room richer feeling than the other. Regarding granite, I would try to match any existing granite you have currently in your home, if not, go to a granite supplier, bring home a few different swatches - see which one looks best with your furniture etc.

I honestly dont mean to be dense, but is it the green walls that are bringing the room down? I did really like the color when we first moved in. Im open to changing it if this is really the problem, just want to be clear. Do you think it would be an improvment to simply paint white under chair rail? Or should I not bother if Im leaving it green above?
BTW, I have already changed up the displays, got rid of the tie backs and a few other changes. I will take some better (brighter) pix soon and post them.

I don't think so, try painting the chair rail and below your trim colour. Then see if you like the way the green is interacting with not only your dining room, but also with other rooms in your home. If it doesn't seem right, change it!

One thing I don't see mentioned here is that there needs to be a rug under the table & chairs. The rug would anchor the table set and is an opportunity to pick up the green from the walls and lighten the area so the table "pops." I agree with painting below the moulding and removing the ties from the curtains.

I think the placement of the curtain rods is adding to the cottage look, and it would be better if the rods were higher (near the ceiling) and wider than the window casings. The rods may expand, but this would entail replacing the curtains with longer ones. If you can't afford to do that, then doing all the other things will make a huge difference in the short term.

Is it possible to remove the paint from only the top of the dresser-type side piece? If it were darker stained wood, your lovely white glass would stand out more. A more traditional sideboard would be better in the long range plan.

A rug! Of course, I can really see how that will lighten it up, and anchor the table. Do you suggest any particular style? Or place to buy with reasonable price? I noticed Restoration Hardware has a new line of gorgeous rugs, but they are $$$! As for that sideboard "dresser" I loved the suggestion on granite on top, but I priced it out, and think for my buget stripping and staining the top is a great alternitive, contrast being the key here. I will for sure raise the curtains but that wil prob. be last. This is great I really feel like Im getting somewhere!

For online, reasonably priced options, Capel Rugs and Shades of Light both offer a decent selection. It will be tempting to go with a medallion style, but I'd recommend an all-over design (borders are okay) to give you the most options for using the rug in other rooms as time goes by. If you're looking for a traditional look you should make sure the rug keeps to that style because it will make a statement. Finally, make sure the rug is large enough; chairs with people in them, back from the table in a realistic dining setting, should still be on top of the rug.

Good luck with the project. I think you're on the right track.